Forward Faster offers bite-sized insights for entrepreneurs.
Get inspired and learn about regional startups, leaders, and resources to grow your business.
How Commitment to Company Culture Pays Off at Optimax
Optimax Systems, Inc. was a small startup operating out of a barn in the mid-90s, and today it’s America’s largest precision optics manufacturer. Optimax employs 460 people and counting in
How PlankeApp is Designing the Future of Boutique Fitness Hiring
In the boutique fitness industry, the ability to form personal connections matters more than a resume or list of credentials. Traditional job posting platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed are not
How Circle Optics is Revolutionizing the Way We View the World
Meet two key members of the team that’s building the world’s first seamless 360° camera. Circle Optics‘ Chief Operating Officer, Ian Gauger, and Director of Marketing, Jennifer Sertl, sit down
How Optica Plays Matchmaker for Startups and Industry
What trends are exciting to the Chief Technology Officer of the world’s leading optics and photonics association? Dr. Jose Pozo, CTO of Optica, met up with Luminate’s Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan
How Launch NY is Funding Startups with One of the Most Active Seed Funds in the Country
Startup businesses less than five years old are now the greatest generator of new jobs. Launch NY’s mission is to identify, support, and fund these high-growth-potential startup businesses, and it
VPIphotonics Brings Cutting-Edge Capabilities to Rochester
VPIphotonics of Berlin, Germany recently relocated its U.S. office from Boston to Rochester and now shares a building with NextCorps and the Luminate accelerator. Chris Maloney, Managing Director of the
Securing Government Contracts: Tips for Entrepreneurs
There are many opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to work with the government — on the local and federal levels, as well as with branches of the military.
Grant Writing from the Ground Up
To have a successful career in science, you must be able to convince strangers to give you enormous sums of money. Unfortunately, many scientists miss the mark and write terrible
Spotlight on Instant Input: Connecting Community Members to Projects They Care About
When Tanya Mooza Zwahlen’s neighborhood playground disappeared overnight, she was inspired to develop a solution that would give people insight into projects going on in their communities. Hear from
Optica (formerly OSA), a New Name for the Leading Global Society in Light Science and Technology
After more than a century, the world’s leading champion for optics and photonics has a new name. Optica (formerly The Optical Society of America) is a reflection of the society’s
Spotlight on Layer Metrics: Enabling Reliable 3D Metal Printing
Manufacturers of mission-critical components like facial implants and aircraft engine pieces are currently using metal printing to produce multiple parts to get one good one. It’s a problem that costs
Spotlight on 2EyesVision: Empowering Personalized Assessment of Multifocal Corrections
Multifocal corrections in the form of contact lenses or intraocular lenses are the best options for an expanding number of patients with presbyopia and cataracts. However, multifocal vision is a
